Mayor Linda Balzotti will not recommend any department heads for reappointment with a mayoral campaign looming in the fall.

The decision allows three directors – including Department of Public Works Commissioner Michael Thoreson – to remain in their positions despite their three-year terms expiring.

Thoreson, appointed to run the Public Works Department in April 2010, was due for reappointment in February. But city ordinances allow the mayor to keep a department head in place until an adequate successor is named. Balzotti can let the department heads with expired terms remain in place in perpetuity by not naming a replacement – a “holdover,” according to City Clerk Anthony Zeoli.

“We’re just going to hold everybody over until next year,” Balzotti said Wednesday.

The terms of Building Superintendent James Casieri and Treasurer/Collector Martin Brophy are expiring in October.

All three positions are subject to mayoral appointment and City Council approval.

Balzotti said the decision does not tie the hands of any future mayor, including herself, as she pursues re-election. She faces challenges from Ward 7 City Councilor Chris MacMillan, Ward 5 School Committee member Bill Carpenter and former mayoral challenger Ron Matta.

But Ward 6 City Councilor Michelle DuBois said the mayor’s decision demonstrates a lack of leadership. Thoreson, who earned $117,301 in 2012, drew the ire of residents over the city’s handling of faulty water meters and outsized water bills and could have faced a tough public reappointment battle in front of the 11-member City Council.

“I think she’s shirking responsibility for political gain so she doesn’t have to deal with the furor that’s going to come with the reappointment of Commissioner Thoreson,” DuBois said.

Thoreson did not return phone calls for comment.

Balzotti said she understands the water meter situation caused issues in the city.

“There have been some rough patches. I’m not going to deny that,” Balzotti said.

But overall, she feels Thoreson has done good work in Brockton. Thoreson said in February that the city’s replacement of more than 22,000 water meters was 89 percent complete. He has also been overseeing the completion of a $1.5 million state grant to restore city underpasses and another $2.4 million federal grant to improve Main Street, Commercial Street and Warren Avenue.

“All of the other work has gone very well over the last year and a half,” Balzotti said.

DuBois said residents were frustrated by the water meter handling, which included the city placing liens on properties allegedly owing thousands of dollars in outstanding water bills. She said the handling was irresponsible and anti-resident.

“It’s really changed my opinion of the leadership in the mayor’s office and the leadership in the DPW’s office,” DuBois said.

DuBois said Balzotti ought to put Thoreson up for reappointment so residents and city councilors can have a say on his service to the city.

Page 2 of 2 - “If she thinks he’s doing a great job, then she should try to reappoint him and let the chips fall where they may,” DuBois said.

City Council President Tim Cruise said that Balzotti has the option to keep department heads through holdover appointments.

“We don’t have authority to act on anything that doesn't come before us,” said Cruise, of Ward 1.

But he said he would support Thoreson for reappointment if the commissioner came before the council.

“We’re lucky to have someone like that with his background,” Cruise said.

Ward 3 City Councilor Dennis Eaniri said the mayor was making a prudent decision to hold off on reappointments so the next mayor can decide how to staff the departments.

“I would probably do the same thing if I was sitting in that position,” Eaniri said. “I give her credit for that.”

Councilor-at-large Jass Stewart said the expiring terms create a tricky situation. He would like the City Council to have a say on the department heads but understands the mayor’s rationale.

“You don’t want a mayor that may be leaving to appoint someone for three years,” Stewart said.